DS Biopharma said today it has launched a spin-outcompany focused solely on fibrotic conditions and pulmonary disorders.
The new company, Afimmune, will continue DS Biopharma’s clinical development of DS102, an antifibrotic compound. DS said DS102 will be advanced “later this year” into a Phase IIa trial in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), after a Phase I trial showed the compound to be safe and well tolerated.
Afimmune also plans to begin another Phase IIa trial assessing DS102—to be renamed AF102—in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), following positive preclinical data. In addition to COPD, DS Biopharma said the new spin-out would focus on another pulmonary disorder, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
According to DS Biopharma, Afimmune has a number of other compounds in preclinical development. The spin-out’s website identifies one such compound, AF100, as being in a “screening” phase, with no indication disclosed.
DS Biopharma said it will focus on the development of DS107, with a topical version indicated for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis and an oral version for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Both topical and oral DS107 are planned to begin separate Phase IIb clinical studies later this year, the company said.
DS is also developing DS109 for inflammatory skin disorders such as acne, and said it expects to advance that compound into clinical studies later this year.
Afimmune and DS Biopharma are both based in Dublin.
